Microsoft revealed yesterday
that its Azure cloud computing service is extending support to the open
source Linux operating system. And in a blog entry this afternoon,
Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth announced that Canonical is working
with Microsoft to support the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution on the
Azure platform.
Canonical will supply official Ubuntu images for Azure and will
provide its commercial support services to customers that are deploying
Ubuntu in Microsoft’s cloud. After an Azure update that is coming in the
fall, users will be able to purchase a Canonical support contract
directly through Microsoft’s Azure Gallery.

Cloud computing is an important market for Canonical, which has been trying to boost its visibility
in the server market. Canonical has recently focused on increasing
Ubuntu’s suitability for adoption in cloud environments with projects
like the Metal as a Service
provisioning tool and the Juju service orchestration framework. The
company has also worked to build a presence in private clouds by working
to support OpenStack and Eucalyptus.

It’s unsurprising that Canonical is trying to get a good foot in the
door for Ubuntu on Azure. Microsoft will also benefit from having
partners in the Linux ecosystem as it works to make Azure a competitive
offering compared to the cloud services offered by rivals such as
Amazon.

In a blog entry
about Canonical’s partnership with Microsoft, Shuttleworth described
Azure as an "impressive new entrant" in the hosted cloud computing
market. He also praised the Azure team, saying that they possess a
"sophisticated understanding of Ubuntu and Linux in general."

Canonical and Microsoft have had little interaction in the past. Ubuntu’s symbolic Bug #1,
which was filed by Shuttleworth himself, declares that putting an end
to Microsoft’s dominant position in the PC market is one of the Ubuntu
project’s chief goals. In his blog post about partnering with Microsoft
to support Ubuntu on Azure, Shuttleworth emphasizes that the
relationship will not conflict with Ubuntu’s values.

"I know there will be members of the free software community that
will leap at the chance to berate Microsoft for its very existence, but
it’s not very Ubuntu to do so: let’s argue our perspective, work towards
our goals, be open to those who are open to us, and build great stuff,"
he wrote. "There is nothing proprietary in Ubuntu-for-Azure, and no
about-turn from us on long-held values."

From a business standpoint, the relationship will be mutually
beneficial for Microsoft and Canonical. Although some Linux enthusiasts
might not be happy about seeing Canonical officially support Microsoft’s
cloud offering, the reality is that Ubuntu will benefit from being able
to run in that environment. If Azure support helps strengthen Ubuntu’s
enterprise clout, it could help bring more resources and adopters to the
Ubuntu ecosystem.

Related Post :

Azure,
canonical,
Cloud,
microsoft,
Ubuntu

About the Author

Aamir Mustafa is Ubuntubuzz contributor since January 2012. Aamir is Chemical Engineer from New Delhi, India. He have more than 6 years of experience in IT and Software solutions sales. Interested with this author, Contact him trough his social account Facebook , Twitter, Google + and DeviantArt .